Indianapolis Mommy Makeover SurgeonDr. Barry Eppley

Pregnancy and childbirth can wreak havoc on a woman’s body. Few women would cast doubt on a phenomenon that they have probably seen or experienced. Throw in the strain of a few months of breast feeding and a bunch of sleepless nights and a woman’s body is sure to suffer (not to mention how she may feel). To reverse some of these changes, plastic surgery has come up with a variety of cosmetic procedures to help restore a woman’s body. Dubbed the “mommy makeover,” it has become popular as both a marketing concept and a treatment strategy for the post-pregnancy female body.

WHAT IS A MOMMY MAKEOVER?

A mommy makeover is a collection of female body reshaping procedures that focus on the breasts and abdomen, the two body areas that are most affected by pregnancy. These can include breast procedures such as a breast lift to perk up sagging breasts after breast feeding, breast implants to bring back a woman’s cup size or even more, and a breast reduction to reduce breasts that may have become enlarged during pregnancy. Abdominal and waistline options include various forms of tummy tuck procedures to tighten stretched stomach muscles and remove loose and sagging skin and liposuction to eliminate unwanted pockets of fat from the stomach, hips and thighs.

None of these plastic surgery procedures are new, but combining them all at once in a single surgery is. Combining breast and abdominal reshaping can create the most dramatic changes ever seen in a woman between the shoulders and the hips. Some women can never return to exactly the way they looked before children even with the best of plastic surgery, but others can end up looking more proportionate and shapely than before pregnancy.

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A MOMMY MAKEOVER?

While many women get stellar results with a mommy makeover, this procedure is not right for everyone. The best candidates are those women who are not planning on having more children and are done with breast feeding. One should have made a good effort with diet and exercise to get the best body possible before surgery, and have sufficient time off and support to allow for an adequate recovery. While some women are anxious to begin the process of mommy makeover surgery shortly after giving birth to their last child, it is often better to wait at least six to 12 months before undergoing the surgery.

Most mommy makeovers are done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Significant body reshaping cannot be completed under local or sedation anesthesia.

While some women bounce back from pregnancy like nothing ever happened, other women struggle with feeling their bodies have been ravaged after pregnancy. Mommy makeovers can reverse years of damage to a woman’s body in just a few hours. Please visit our mommy makeover before and after photos page to view before and after pictures.

Dr. Eppley is a well-trained Indianapolis mommy makeover surgeon who is also recognized as a top-notch Indianapolis breast augmentation provider among patients seeking plastic surgery in Indianapolis.

Mommy Makeover – Before Surgery

Mommy makeovers require a thorough pre-surgical assessment as there are many options in both breast and abdominal reshaping. Things to consider before breast surgery include the amount of sagging and the type of breast lift to correct it and whether volume is needed through the use of breast implants. Either can be done alone or in combination for the best breast shape. The amount of skin and fat and the shape of the waistline determine whether some form of a tummy tuck (mini- vs. full) with or without liposuction is needed for the best result. By definition, a mommy makeover combines both breast and abdominal reshaping together although they can also be done as two separate procedures, if this is needed due to recovery or economic concerns.

The Mommy Makeover Operation

Mommy makeover procedures are done exclusively under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. Breast lifts are usually done through either superior nipple, vertical or combined vertical and horizontal incisions with resultant scars. If breast implants are needed, they can be inserted through the breast lift incisions. Breast implants are usually placed partially underneath the pectoralis muscle. Tummy tucks are done through low horizontal scars that extend just beyond the pubic hairline (mini-tummy tuck) or from hip to hip (full tummy tuck). If there is any fullness (fat collections) that extend beyond the ends of the incisions of the tummy tuck, then liposuction will be used to prevent the so-called ‘muffin top’ problem or bulges at and above the hips.

Recovering from Mommy Makeover

A bra is used after breast lift surgery or breast augmentation. All breast lift incisions will be covered with flesh-colored tapes. In addition, dissolvable sutures are used underneath the skin so no suture removal is needed. There will be some temporary breast swelling and often bruising around the nipple area for several weeks after surgery. You may lift and move your arms without restrictions although there will be some temporary discomfort in doing so. You may shower within 24 to 48 hours after surgery and it is alright to get the tapes wet.

The tummy tuck garment is a wrap-around Velcro binder that is used for support and comfort. The tummy tuck incision is covered by flesh-colored tapes and has dissolvable sutures under the skin so that no removal is needed later. There will be a drain that exits below the incision to which a bulb suction is going to be attached. This will remain in place for seven to 10 days after surgery to prevent any fluid build-up. You may shower within 24 to 48 hours after surgery and getting the tapes and drain wet is perfectly acceptable. Activities after surgery will depend on your level of comfort.